GistNaija.com : 2012-07-08

Friday, July 20, 2012

14 killed at Batman movie premiere

At least 14 people were killed and some 50 wounded Friday when a gunman opened fire at a crowded cinema premiere of the latest Batman movie in the US state of Colorado, police and media said.

Witnesses interviewed by local media described a scene of chaos at the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises,” saying the gunman had set off tear gas bombs and opened fire in the packed theater in Aurora, a suburb of Denver.

Mrs. Josephine Okoye,

A foremost undertaker in Nigeria, M.I.C has been contracted to handle the burial of Mrs. Josephine Okoye, 62, the mother of multiple award-winning music group, P-Square.

Fondly referred to as Mama P, Mrs. Okoye died in Apollo Hospital, Calcutta, India on Wednesday, 11 July, 2012. She died about five hours after a successful heart surgery.

A devoted Christian and minister till death, Mrs. Okoye will be buried in her hometown, Anambra State. Though the burial arrangements have not been announced, P.M Entertainment reliably gathered that it will hold within the next two or three weeks.

It seems the marriage of gospel singer, Mrs Wunmi Awoniyi, a.k.a Omo Emi, has crashed irredeemably as her husband, Prophet Samuel Awoniyi has filed a divorce suit before the Orile Agege Grade ‘B’ Customary Court in Lagos.

He is seeking the dissolution of the marriage on the ground of her alleged shameful acts.
The court has fixed 2 August, 2012 for hearing and determination of the matter.

Patience Jonathan Arrives Bayelsa For Swearing-in As Perm Sec Today

The wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, will today in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, be sworn-in as a permanent secretary along with 17 others by the Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson.

Others to be sworn in include Mr. J. E. Oye, Samson Ayibeboa, Mrs. Antonia Koroye, Ziwari Billie, Buruboyefa John, Dikuro Ayebameh, Serge Williams, Olu Kuruom, G. I. Izein, Mrs. Philomena Alodie, Dr. Omietimi Kojo, Ese Izonebi, Ohougha Maythias, James Clinton, Mrs. Linnet Tebepah, Moses Teibowei, Dr. A. Sanayi and Vivian Odiwei.

Officials continue to steal funds needed for fixing dilapidated hospitals and providing drugs
In this first part of our series on the utilisation of the yearly $1billion for Millennium Development Goals' projects, we investigate the monumental corruption in the health ministry. We found that rather than help, the ministry is actually killing the country's hope of achieving the MDGs.

Massive corruption in various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are the main reasons Nigeria will not achieve her Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation has revealed.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has appealed to the federal government to withdraw soldiers from facilities of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and resume meaningful dialogue with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) towards resolving the stalemate between them.

In a statement by its President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, the NLC pointed out today that the Chief Negotiator has yet to submit his team’s report for implementation, and that that implies the possibility of further dialogue with the workers.

The Chief Negotiator is Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the pioneer President of the NLC and the Secretary of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).

Muslims across the country are expected to join other faithful across the world to begin this year Ramadan fasting today.

Already, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad, has urged Muslims who sight the new moon of Ramadan to communicate to relevant authorities immediately for the commencement of the fast.

Muslims are mandated to fast in the month of Ramadan for either 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon.

Six people have been reported dead in Maiduguri, after an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants.

It will be recalled that President Jonathan, on Wednesday, lifted a state of emergency in several local government areas in Borno State, ahead of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, which is observed by most of Nigeria's estimated 80 million Muslims.

Former Director-General, Security and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh; CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi at a meeting of the Economic Management Team with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday (3/7/12). NAN Photo

The House of Representatives, yesterday, indicted Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Director-General of SEC Arunma Oteh and DG of Assets Management Commission (AMCON) Mustafa Chike-Obi for their refusal to submit certain documents required by the House.

The House took the decision while adopting the recommendations of its Adhoc Committee on the near collapse of the Capital Market.

The Report was laid before the House last Tuesday by the committee’s Chairman Ibrahim El-Sudi.

A road linking Defence Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) office with the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Barracks, in Abuja, has been named after Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s President.

The road was constructed by the association.

At the commissioning ceremony, Mrs Jonathan said that private sector organisations’ cooperation was central to achieving the aims of the Transformation Agenda of her husband.

She said that the road would serve the interest of members of DEPOWA, the barracks community and other road users.

A fourth official of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who was involved in last Friday’s auto accident has died in the hospital.

The students were traveling from Abuja where they had bestowed a controversial “Governor of The Year” award on Governor Olusegun Rahman Mimiko of Ondo State.

Three of them died on Friday, with another one reported to be in critical condition.

SaharaReporters learnt that shortly after the accident Aremo Gbenga Oyebode (NANS VP External Affairs) was left to his fate and he gave up the ghost yesterday at the Federal Clinic in Owo, Ondo state.

Kenyan rapper Prezzo confided in Talia Wednesday evening, letting her in on his plans to ask for a Voluntary Exit, as early as tomorrow. Prezzo cited isolation and an overwhelming sense of loneliness as his reason for throwing in the towel.

Talia did not seem to believe him at first, but after deeper conversation, realised the Kenyan is serious. "My tank is on empty right now. I'm done. I feel so lonely and the isolation is getting to me," he said.

The lawmakers say Mr. Jonathan will be impeached if the 2012 budget is not properly implemented.

The face-off between the House of Representatives and President Goodluck Jonathan continued, Thursday, as some lawmakers served Mr. Jonathan a shocking impeachment warning, threatening to remove him from office if the 2012 budget was not fully implemented by September.

The impeachment warning by the Lawmakers followed a motion by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Minority Leader.

Despite an executive order recalling the embattled Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved its Capital Market Committee recommendations demanding her sack.

The committee had, in the report of its investigations of the near-collapse of the capital market, called for Oteh’s removal for not meeting the required 15 years pre-experience in the Nigerian capital market before appointment as the DG.

A group of soldiers on Wednesday beat up some men of a Lagos Task Force team on enforcing environment regulations, chairman of the task force, Superintendent of Police, Bayo Sulaimon said.

The incident was said to have happened around Yaba in Lagos when men of the task force who are police officers working in conjunction with the Lagos state government tried to remove a military vehicle from where it was parked.'

The soldiers were said to have been upset by the move and reacted. One of the police men was said to have been arrested by the soldiers after the rest beated in the ensuing scuffle.

However, the intervention of senior officers of the task force helped to resolve the matter and Superintendent Sulaimon said the arrested police man was also released later.

Gunmen Fire At Card Players In Kano, Killing Three On Ramadan Eve

A few hours to the commencement of the Muslim Ramadan fasting, two gunmen riding on a motorbike shot and killed three people playing cards in Kano. A fourth person sustained serious injuries and has been rushed to the hospital.

Also, a constabulary police officer narrowly escaped death but sustained gunshot wounds and has also been taken to an unknown hospital, soaked in blood.

The men opened fire around public square known as ‘Kwanan Freedom radio’ in Sharada area of Kano city into a group of card players.

The Kano State police command spokesperson has officially confirmed the killings, while a security operative in the area said several residents have gone into hiding to avoid falling victim of the crossfire that ensures after such the attacks.

No group has claimed responsibility of the attack.

Rafael Nadal Bails on Olympics,Says He’s Not in Condition to Play

Rafael Nadal just delivered some GREAT NEWS to everyone who's not a Spaniard ... he's officially pulling out of the 2012 Olympics ... claiming he's "not in condition" to compete.

It's a crushing blow to Spain ... since the tennis great won gold at the 2008 Games and was a favorite to top the podium this time around, too.

Rafael called the decision to bail one of the saddest moments of his career. He was supposed to be Spain's flag bearer during the opening ceremony -- but now it's likely he'll be replaced.

N2.5m Fraud: Ex- Banker Jailed Five Years

Idris Ado Zango

Justice Dije Aboki of High Court of Kano State has sentenced Mr. Idris Ado Zango, 31, an ex- banker who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to five years and nine months in jail for fraud.

He was however given the option of a six hundred thousand naira (N600, 000) fine.

Zango of No. 133 Zango Quarters, Kano was charged for obtaining money by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and theft.

Davido Wants To Be An Actor

Davido

Fast rising Nigerian pop star, David Adeleke, otherwise called Davido says he’s interested in acting.

The 19-year-old musician made this known during a recent interview.‘I am a son. I am a brother…I am a business owner, and I plan to go into acting when people get to know me’ he said, when he was asked who he is, away from the cameras.

He further spoke about his hit track, Dami duro, which he describes as a ‘bad song’ compared to what is contained in his full debut album which has just been released.

Goldie Harvey

Singer, Goldie Harvey has returned to Nigeria following her evition from the on-goingBig Brother Stargame show where she was Nigeria’s last standing representative.

Sources say the 27-year-old entertainer arrived the country yesterday, Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at the Lagos International Airport, Ikeja at around 8pm.

A press briefing will hold this morning at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja, where she’ll be formally presented to Nigerians.

Prior to her eviction, last Sunday, Goldie, was the last Nigerian remaining in the house after the voluntary exit of Ola and Chris.

Student Striped Naked For Stealing Blackberry Phone

A 200 Level student of the University of Benin allegedly stole a Blackberry Phone belonging to her friend in BDPA, and was consequently threatened by other students who came to the scene.

Report says her friend started looking for her Blackberry for over 3 hours and could not find it. The alleged lady was asked about the phone and she denied taking it.

However, the phone rang and she refused to pick it, even when her friend insisted she pick it, she refused.

The argument led to neighbors coming to the room, and the phone was discovered. Meanwhile, the guys who came in removed her clothing and started abusing her body while snapping pictures.

Halle Berry Suffers Minor Head Injury On Set

Halle Berry

Halle Berry is recovering Wednesday after suffering "a minor head injury" on the set of her upcoming movie, "The Hive" a rep tells CNN.

The 45-year-old actress was filming a fight scene when the accident happened, which reportedly occurred on Tuesday night. TMZ cites anonymous sources who say that Berry hit her head on concrete after a bad fall.

However, her rep tells CNN that the head injury was minor, and that the Oscar winner "was taken to the hospital as a precaution but she checked out healthy and was released."

The coroner's inquest into the death of Ademola Aderinto, killed during January anti-fuel subsidy removal protests in Lagos, continued on Wednesday, with a police officer testifying that he received a distress call about hoodlums terrorising residents.

Steven Onwe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who was attached to the Radio Control Room of the State Police Command, said the anonymous caller did not say that the group were protesters.

"I received an anonymous call that hoodlums had taken over at Yaya Abatan (area)," he said.

Members of the International Tchoukball Federation officials after a media briefing heralding a competition will be held from August 10th to 12th in Togo.

Sports has held an undeniable place in the history of mankind. In spite of the noble ideals of sports, there are some times that the frail human nature tends to bastardise it by violating fair play.

We have witnessed cases of sportsmen taking performance enhancing drugs to win. A common attribute of sports are also injuries. The careers of many have been unceremoniously cut short due to them.

Olumide Oyedeji (C) of Nigeria scores against Dominican Republic, during their Pre-Olympic basketball game in Caracas on July 8, 2012. Nigeria won 88-73 and qualifies for London 2012 Olympic Games. AFP PHOTO

First Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Muktar Kaleh has told Nigerians that the national male basketball team, D’Tigers that qualified for the London Olympics last week had equal chances of qualifying from the group stage like any other team in their group, which parades the likes of USA, Lithuania, France, Argentina and fellow African representatives, Tunisia.

Muktar who spoke with Sports Vanguard at the National Stadium, Lagos was unfazed by the quality of opposition in Nigeria’s group, insisting, however, “the Olympics is open for everybody, any team can spring surprises.”

A security source has just told a reliable source of shooting in Dunga, in Tafawa Balewa area of Bauchi State, following the arrival of unknown gunmen who immediately started shooting.

Details are still sketchy, but gun shots were still being heard at the time of this report.

Only today, President Goodluck Jonathan ended the emergency he declared in 15 local council areas in four States last December. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, said that local and state governments will now be responsible for the maintenance of security in those States: Plateau, Borno, Yobe, and Niger.

Last Wednesday, July 11, four persons were killed when unknown gunmen invaded Tafawa Balewa.

Pakistani Father Buries New Born Baby Alive

Pakistani police arrested a man accused of burying his newborn daughter alive because she was physically deformed, officials said Saturday.

The shocking incident illustrates the sometimes extreme prejudices in Pakistan against children, especially girls that are born with any type of physical deformities.

Mohammed Anwar, a police officer in the city of Khanewal in the eastern Punjab province, said the child was born at a hospital in the nearby town of Kacha Khoh.

Police Inspectors And suspect Die In Auto Crash

Two police inspectors in the Ogun State Police Command were on Tuesday killed along with an unidentified suspect in an auto crash along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The officers were killed when the Toyota Hilux van marked Lagos DF 413 AAA they were traveling on their way from Sango where they had gone to arrest the two suspects collided with a blue DAF stationary truck with number plate Lagos XU 502 JJJ in Iyani Onigbedu, Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area at about 10.00am.

Rihanna who is on holiday is Sardinia, decided to take sexy photos of herself and share it on her twitter page. Nice body.

See More Photos below:

On August 17, 2012, Nigerian music lovers will be able to watch one of the biggest Hip-hop artistes in the world, Rick Ross, perform live at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites.

‘It is official…I will be on stage with some of your favourite artistes at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel. We are taking over Lagos, Nigeria’ Rick Ross said in a video drop obtained by Nigerian Entertainment Today.

The gig called ‘Summer Jam Festival‘ is being put together by St. Eve’s Magazine, and we’ll bring you more details as they unfold.

Bandits have killed a policeman, Mr. Sunday Agboricaen, and by-standers in Badagry area of Lagos State while robbing a pick-up van laden with a huge sum of money owned by a bank.

Eyewitness said the pick-up was being escorted by another van when hoodlums in a Sports Utility Vehicle opened fire on them, causing the occupants of the vehicles to run out.

It was learnt that the robbers, who shot sporadically, also killed a pregnant woman while other motorists and bystanders were hit by stray bullets

A pastor in Ekete waterside inWarri, Delta State has set himself ablaze on the popular Udu Bridge near the oil-rich city.

The pastor, a source learnt, had been complaining about family problems in recent time.

A source said on Wednesday that the pastor, who drove himself to the bridge, alighted from his car, took a 20-litre jerrycan of fuel from the booth, and set himself ablaze under the bridge.

It was learnt that before help could come his way, Obaleme, who was married and had children, died on the spot.

Following the demolition of shanties in Makoko waterfront, thousands of displaced residents have relocated under the Third Mainland Bridge.

Our correspondent who visited the area on Wednesday reported that residents had been pulling down shanties which did not fit into government’s plan.

One of the residents, Paul Aworetan, said the residents would cooperate with the state government but urged the government to resettle them.

Alhaji Rasak Gawat

Jubril, the son of the missing popular Nigerian Television Authority presenter, Alhaji Rasak Gawat, has said there is no trace in his father’s vehicle suggesting that he might have been harmed before he got missing.

Jubril said, “His car was untouched as at the time we got to the office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency. It was locked with remote control. We had to use the extra key but that could only open the ignition.

“Later, we called a panel beater who opened it. Just like the body of the car was neat, the interior was also neat. There was no trace of scuffle or violence.”

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it would investigate two soldiers who drove on Bus Rapid Transit lane in Lagos on Tuesday.

The soldiers – Col. K. I. Yusuf and Staff Sergeant A.J. Adeomi – were accosted by Governor Babatunde Fashola, on the BRT lane at Outer Marina, Lagos Island.

The NA in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, 81 Division, Lt.-Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, said the soldiers would be appropriately sanctioned because they were expected to obey the laws of the state.

An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mustapher Adeleke, was allegedly killed by the driver of a blue Volkswagen Bus with registration number LSR 942XC.

A reliable source learnt that the deceased who was at his duty post at Oke Afa, Ejigbo with his colleagues were part of the team deployed in the area to checkmate driving against traffic along Mile 2.

According to LASTMA authorities, it was while the driver of the bus, later identified as Haruna Nuru, was driving against traffic from Isolo end of the road that he hit the 34-year-old officer from behind.

Having noticed that he had hit a government official, the driver was said to have sped off but was later apprehended by witnesses at Abimbola Road, near Isolo Bus Stop.

Family members, friends and colleagues of a 32-year old groom named Yussuf Babatunde Babalola are currently trying to unravel the sudden death of the young man who was alleged to have been poisoned on the eve of his wedding.

The late Babalola with his wife-to-be.

Investigations revealed that the late Babalola woke up at about 6.30 a.m. on Thursday, 12 July, 2012, the day he was to be at the marriage registry, complaining of stomach upset to his bride, Kudirat.

She raised an alarm by calling on his friends when the ailment became unbearable. By the time he was taken to the hospital two hours later, he was clinically dead.

Is Kelly Handsome now into politics? This was a recent picture taken in which Kelly was with the current Imo state governor, Governor Rochas Okorocha.

PHOTO: D’Prince Covers July Edition of Exquisite Magazine

D;Prince my main man! You look so handsome and mmmuuaaaa!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

PHOTOS: Actress Mary Uranta’s Birthday Photos

Man Arraigned for Enticing Married Woman in Abuja

The police on Wednesday arraigned Abe John, 32, of Nyaya Junction, Abuja at an Abuja Upper Area Court for alleged criminal trespass, mischief, assault and enticing a married woman.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Ambi Ayuba, told the court that the matter was reported at the Garki Police Station by Mr. Zakka Waya of State House, Abuja on July 16.

Ayuba said Waya had information that whenever he went to work, the accused usually visited his home, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

He added that the accused person allegedly entered Waya’s house with the intention of enticing his wife.

WikiLeaks Editor, Julian Assange

Whistleblowing website WikiLeaks announced on Wednesday that it was running out of money, saying it had only 100,000 euros left for 2012.

That money will be depleted in a few months if it does not get any further donations, according to the organisation.
The group needs one million euros immediately, it said.

Donations are the most important source of income for WikiLeaks - these were collected though Germany's Wau-Holland-Foundation.

WikiLeaks criticised credit card companies Visa and MasterCard for undermining the organisation by stopping to forward donations in 2010.

The WikiLeaks platform was founded by Julian Assange and has published more than 250,000 internal documents from US-embassies around the world.
Mr. Assange has sought refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex allegations.

For Visa and MasterCard to avoid wikileaks, means the world is not ready to face the truth.

Future Awards: Young Person of the Year list emerges, Linda Ikeji also Nominated

Linda Ikeji

The Future Awards, which the World Bank has called "The Nobel Prize for Young Africans", has unveiled the list of Young Person of the Year 2012.

The names of some of the nominees are: Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, for building an inspiring business in Empire Mates Entertainment that has created superstars like Wizkid; Chinwe Njoku, an Engineer who recently won the Sir Robert Martin University Prize in the United Kingdom; and Idris Akinbajo, a Journalist who started with NEXT Newspapers and now heads the Investigative Desk at Premium Times.

Others are musician Dapo Oyebanjo, also known as D'banj; Jason Njoku a Media Entrepreneur; Peter and Paul Okoye, popularly known as Psquare; Linda Ikeji(dats wat am talking about), a Blogger/Media Entrepreneur; and Raheem Temitope Bello, a Scientist and the youngest of the nominees at age 19.

The police in Cross River State are on the trail of Joseph Enem, a former councillor in Akamkpa Local Government Area wanted for allegedly killing four elephants and selling their tusks to foreigners.

Ubi Arikpo, a Commissioner in the state’s Forestry Commission, said on Wednesday that the councillor and his accomplices were hiding in the Oban Forest Reserve.

According to him, the suspects ran away after the deal was exposed. “They are now hibernating in the forest after the police declared them wanted for illegally poaching four elephants in the Oban Forest Reserve,” he said. “They killed the elephants and threw away the bodies of the huge animals after removing their tusks which they gave to their agents for onward transport to Europe for sale.”

Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission who had been protesting against the planned return of DG Arunma Oteh have backed down after a meeting with the outgoing acting Director General of the commission, Ibrahim Bello.

The workers emerged from a meeting with the outgoing acting Director General of the commission sober without the protesting spirit they displayed earlier in the day.

Oteh did not turn up for work today as was expected though.

Some of them confided in Daily Trust that the acting DG told them to put everything in the hands of God as the government will do whatever it wants to do.

Asked if they had backed down on their demands, the staff said they had not as deliberations still continues on the matter.

Governor Kashim Shettima today announced a review of the curfews imposed on five local government areas of the state that had been under a state of emergency for the last six months.

Restriction of movement is now from 9pm to 6am, the governor said, adding that the decision was taken after consultations with stakeholders including the Joint Task Force which is comprised of the Army, Navy, Air Force, State Security Services, Customs and Immigration services.

Shettima stated this in Gwoza in the southern part of Borno state where he went for an official visit.

President Goodluck Jonathan has eventually forwarded the final draft copy of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly for onward passage into law.

This ends anxiety generated by the document, following alarm raised by the presidency that fake versions of the bill were being circulated and published in some online papers.

Petroleum Resources Minister, Deziani Allison Madueke who gave the hint while briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa noted that what was sent to the National Assembly yesterday was the only authentic copy of the bill.

She also disclosed that the PIB contained some security features to guard against circulation of fake copies.

Nigerians have been ranked as among the most sexually satisfied in the world, according to a global survey conducted by condom manufacturer, Durex.

In a statement on Tuesday, Durex said the online study questioned more than 26,000 respondents across 26 countries about every aspect of their sex lives in a bid to chart comprehensively “what constitutes intimate well-being.”

The survey put Nigeria in pole position at 67 per cent, followed by Mexico at 63 per cent, India (61 Per cent) and Poland (54 per cent).

A rocket explosion and unknown gunmen again hit Jos, Plateau State capital, yesterday morning, leaving no fewer than six persons dead, including a 10-year-old pupil of Jos Nura Islamic School, who was hit by a rocket fired at his school.

The development came just as two rocket launchers were said to have been launched around 7pm in Bukuru Jos south local government of plateau around the Bukuru Market

The spokesman of the special task force on Jos crisis Captain Salisu Mustapha confirmed the incidence and said it happened around the Gyel area of the locality and there was no casualty. He also said that large scale investigation is going on.

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